A Palestinian youth was killed Thursday and twelve others were injured when Israeli tanks shelled a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, reported the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.
At least 40 Palestinians were injured, including two children, in an overnight Israeli raid in the same area.
Shadi Syam, 18, was killed by a shrapnel that penetrated his back, said the agency.
Witnesses told Reuters that a gunfight erupted when two Israeli tanks and a bulldozer tried to enter the camp.
Hospital officials said Syam was deaf and standing in front of his house unaware of the gunbattle.
WAFA said that two of the injured were in serious condition during the shelling on Yebna refugee camp.
Earlier in the day, Israeli tans shelled southern Gaza in what Israeli officials said was a "retaliation for mortar fire on a nearby Jewish settlement."
Al Jazeera satellite channel reported that four Israeli tanks shelled the Sheikh Ajlan neighborhood in southern Gaza, destroying several houses.
It added that Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinians in the area, but reported no injuries.
The channel's correspondent in Gaza quoted Israeli military officials as saying that the Israeli attacks were "in retaliation for mortar fire on Netzarim Jewish settlement."
Following the shelling, Israeli troops entered the area and closed several roads, the TV report added.
ISRAELI POLICE EVACUATES BUS STATION SOUTHERN TEL AVIV FOR ‘FEAR OF TERROR ACTS
Israeli police said that there were tangible warnings Thursday afternoon of a “possible infiltration by terrorists into the southern Tel Aviv area next to the new central bus station,” reported Israel Radio.
Police arrested two men for questioning, said the report, adding that police forces have been dispatched throughout the area, and civilians have been evacuated from the bus station.
Police were checking suspicious objects in the area, but nothing has been found so far.
A police helicopter has also been dispatched to the area, added the report.
ARAFAT HOLDS TALKS WITH MUBARAK ON PALESTINIAN CRISIS
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat held talks Thursday with his Egyptian counterpart, Hosni Mubarak, on the latest situation in the Palestinian territories, said WAFA.
Arafat arrived in Cairo, coming from France, where he held talks with President Jacque Chirac.
Arafat had told reporters in Paris after talks with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin that Sharon should accept in its entirety a report by a panel led by former US Senator George Mitchell.
"This report has been accepted by the European Union, by the United States, by Arab countries, by Russia, by the Palestinians," Arafat said.
The Mitchell report calls for an immediate cessation of violence and then a cooling-off period followed by confidence building measures, including a freeze on settlement construction.
Asked by a reporter whether there could be a delay between a ceasefire and implementation of other aspects of the report, Arafat replied: "What are you? Sharon's spokesman? That's what he wants."
Palestinians want a ceasefire and a freeze on Jewish settlements to go hand-in-hand. Israel and US Secretary of State Colin Powell have said both sides must end the violence before taking steps to restore shattered trust.
The Palestinian president, meanwhile, called again for a Middle East summit as soon as possible to establish a mechanism and a timetable for implementing the report's recommendations, said Reuters.
Anxious to bring an end to violence the world fears could spin out of control, US President George W. Bush, in a rare sign of personal intervention in the Middle East, telephoned Sharon and Arafat on Wednesday.
A US official said: "Both leaders agreed to work with us on a framework for implementation of the Mitchell committee report's recommendations."
At least 444 Palestinians, 88 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have been killed since the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in late September after peace talks stalled.
US Secretary General Kofi Annan also called Sharon late on Wednesday and praised him for taking a step to cease hostilities, Sharon's office said in a statement, cited by the agency - Albawaba.com
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